Capitol Christian Music Group (CCMG) has announced the promotion of Walter Thomas to Vice President of Artist Development at Motown Gospel and TAMLA Records. Additionally, Alexandria “Dria” Dollar has joined CCMG in the role of Senior Director of A&R at TAMLA & Motown Gospel.
The new position takes Thomas from Director of Artist Development for CCMG in 2023 to his new role which comes with expanded responsibilities including overseeing the growth and nurturing of the company’s artist roster and development initiatives along with facilitating its marketing initiatives.
He reports to CCMG Co-Presidents Brad O’Donnell and Hudson Plachy. Prior to arriving at CCMG, Thomas served as CEO of Agency 22 Music & Entertainment, managing artists such as DOE, JJ Hairston, Jonathan McReynolds, Maverick City Music, Smokie Norful and more.
“I am deeply honored to step into the role of Vice President of Artist Development for Motown Gospel and TAMLA,” says Thomas. “These iconic labels have a legacy of inspiring and uplifting music, and I am committed to continuing this tradition by developing the next generation of extraordinary artists.
I am equally thrilled to welcome Alexandria Dollar as our new Senior Director of A&R. Alexandria’s innovative approach and keen ear for talent are unmatched, and I am confident that together we will elevate our artists to new heights. This is an exciting time for us, and I look forward to all that we will accomplish at Motown Gospel and TAMLA.”
“Walter Thomas is a great music executive and we are confident he’ll excel in this new role,” shared Brad O’Donnell, CCMG Co-President. “He has great instincts and strong relationships across the entire industry. I know he’ll serve our artists and partners well in this expanded capacity.”
“I want to congratulate Walter in his new role,” added Hudson Plachy, CCMG Co-President. “We are excited about what he brings to this company and the industry overall. He’s an experienced executive who is innovative and creative along with passion to serve artists.”
Dollar, a two-time GRAMMY Award winner and recipient of Stellar and Dove Awards, brings a wealth of industry experience and an unparalleled ear for identifying the next big acts across positive hip-hop, R&B, and beyond. In her new position she will work closely with Thomas and spearhead efforts to discover, develop, and sign new talent.
Prior to joining CCMG, Dollar served as Director of A&R at Reach Records in Atlanta, GA. collaborating with many of music’s biggest names, including Lecrae, For King + Country, Kirk Franklin, Chloe x Halle, PJ Morton, The Disney Channel, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, and more.
Stephanie “Lady Redneck” Lee hails from Dallas, Texas, and has been captivating audiences with her unique blend of humor, heart, and genuine storytelling. Born in Blackfoot, Idaho, and raised in the tiny town of Howe, Stephanie moved to Idaho Falls before junior high. Growing up in a musical family, she played in the family band, Dusty Boots, performing all over the Northwest and selling 40,000 CDs during their career. She is proficient in guitar, piano, bass, fiddle, mandolin, and drums.
Now, carving out her own path, Stephanie has earned the respect of fans and critics alike with her solo releases. Her single, “I Dented Your Truck,” reached the top of the international iTunes country songs chart, and “Pray for Peace” hit #1 on the UK iTunes Christian music chart. Her most recent album, “God so Loved the World,” released in December 2023, continues to showcase her shift towards Christian-based music. Her last single, “3 Days,” also topped the UK iTunes Christian Songs chart and the Saudi Arabia Spotify charts, and it made it to the first ballot of this year’s Dove Awards!
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey in the music industry and how you got started in Christian country music?
I would love to! I’ve performed and written music all my life. I love all genres, but country always resonated with me, my beliefs and personality.
I think we can all agree 2020 wasn’t the best year, and I’m not sure it brought out the best in me. I started feeling more anger and contention than I had ever felt. By December, I went into a deep evaluation of my soul and by the end of the month, I knew I wanted to bring more light and love into the world… I wanted to share His message and His love.
When I would sit down to write, Christian songs just poured out of me, so now I do a mixture of both.
Your new album “God So Loved The World” released in December, can you give us a peek into what listeners can expect from it?
My heart and soul… The album begins with a song I wrote called, “After The Rain, You’ll Find the Son.” This song talks about how when we go through trials, if we choose not to become bitter but turn to Him, we will find the “Son,” meaning the Son of God. The 3 verses in that song specifically are feelings I felt during 3 very big trials in my life so it’s very personal. The other songs are the same way. Two of the songs I had written a few years earlier. They were “It’s His Fight Too” and talked about a time when my husband and I lost everything and how He carried us through those trials.
Christian Singer Songwriter Lady Redneck is Keepin’ it Real in this Exclusive One-on-One
Stream & Enjoy
The song “Tender Mercy” was about a time when for the first time in my life I felt I had lost hope and really understood how important hope was, then later realized that when I thought He wasn’t there – He had truly been with me every step of the way.
So, yeah, the songs are really personal. As I wrote them, I would always pray about what to write about- what this world needed – and “His love” was always part of the answer.
You’ve had multiple #1 hits on the UK iTunes Christian/Gospel Songs chart, what do you think sets your music apart from others in the industry?
That’s a good question. I would say, “because It’s real.” I’m not just going along with an algorithm that makes a hit song. I’m writing from the soul. It’s not that I don’t want a hit song ☹, because I definitely do – but if you can’t feel it, that’s a problem for me.
Your music is often described as relatable and honest. How important is it for you to connect with your audience on a personal level through your music?
I love hearing that and it truly makes me happy. It’s SO IMPORTANT. Especially with AI taking over the way it is. When Chat GPT came out, I jumped on there and asked it to write me a song, gave it a subject, told it I wanted 3 verses and a chorus – gave it specific parameters and it wrote a pretty good song! But it wasn’t REAL….Ya know?
There’s something about truth. Truth resonates in our soul. When the singer feels the song, the listeners feel it. When a songwriter writes a song and it’s true, I believe we feel it. It’s important for me to connect that way with my listeners. I don’t want to sound like everyone else. I don’t want to be like everyone else. I want to be me… the good, the bad, and the ugly part of me – and if they can love me like that, I can love them like that!
Don’t we all want to be accepted and loved for who we truly are? I think that’s one of Christ’s greatest teachings.
In addition to your music, you are also an entrepreneur. How do you balance your music career with your other business ventures?
I’ve been doing a little more business lately than I’d like. Since my hearing accident, it’s made me a little insecure and I haven’t been performing as much as I have wanted to. I’m in the process of getting this figured out so plan on doing a LOT of music in the near future… But it’s a good question. Especially since when I turn on my business side of my brain, It’s quite different from my artistic side – so I have to do one or the other. I love doing business, not as much as music, but it’s so fun for me.
As far as balance, it all goes back to my goals. I am one of those people who write them all out and read them every day. Then I just work with the end in mind… what do I need to work on today, business or music?
Your song “Pray for Peace” received a nomination for “Christian Songwriter of the Year” at the Josie Music Awards. How did it feel to be recognized for your songwriting talents?
Very good! I remember releasing my FIRST song I had written, wondering if anyone would like it. Songwriting is so intimate. You truly share so much of who you are. I think if someone were to sit down and listen to all my CDs, they would pretty much know exactly who I am. My father is a songwriter and I grew up loving his songs. I still do. My mind thinks in song format, so it’s very natural to me.
What inspired you to write the title track “God So Loved The World” and what message do you hope to convey through it?
When I wrote it, it wasn’t “God So Loved The World.” It was about asking, and you shall receive; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. It was a great song, but the night before I was supposed to go to the studio, God put different words in my heart, and I changed it that night. Then while driving there the following morning, He gave me more changes! When I got there, I wasn’t as confident with the song because of all the last-minute changes and it made me rely on Him and make sure I shared the message He wanted me to share. I loved how it turned out and love the fact that the spirit instructed me what needed to be said in that song. That one wasn’t mine…
You have a strong faith and it shines through in your music. How do you stay true to your beliefs and values in an industry that can be challenging at times?
It is challenging and thanks for saying that! It’s easy for me to stay true to my faith in God, even though I had never had a true hater until I became a Christian singer, and it was from a Christian so that was sad and weird for me. My faith and love for my Savior is a ROCK. The harder part, for me, is being modest and keeping my values. I’ll see other ladies showing some skin and they get a lot of views and attention for that! I’m not that girl and I don’t necessarily want to be – but maybe sometimes something inside of me does just a little… (one of my weaknesses).
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your music career so far, and how did you overcome it?
Losing a lot of my hearing 2 years ago. It rocked my world. I was at an outside shooting range and someone shot a large gun when I didn’t have my hearing protection on, and I immediately couldn’t hear. I thought it would probably come back in a couple hours or the following day, like when you go to a loud concert – but it never did. With music being my life: teaching, singing, performing, etc… it was devastating. I was able to continue teaching, because I could “feel” the vibrations and pitches. I did a few live shows but because of insecurities have done mostly recorded music since. I’m working in a solution for this now and hope to have it resolved soon.
In the meantime, I will continue putting out more music and growing my fan base, so when I’m ready – I can START DOING MORE SHOWS!!
What advice would you give to aspiring Christian artists and entrepreneurs looking to break into the industry?
Be real. Pray before every show, everything you write, and everything you do. Trust Him. If you look at it like you’re “an instrument in His hands” to share His message and His love – it makes even your weaknesses become strong in Him. Don’t wait until everything is perfect, and the stars line up.
Start now! I see people all the time who are waiting for ___ (insert excuse here) and then it never happens. God needs you NOW. He needs you to share His message, His love and to touch hearts. Do it for Him and do it now. Vist Lady Redneck at www.ladyredneckmusic.com
Internationally recognized praise band Planetshakers releases “Delight-Live” globally today. The single will be featured on the band’s new, full-length album, The Winning Team, set to release July 19.
Written by Andy Harrison and Josh Ham and produced by Joth Hunt, “Delight” was recorded live at Planetshakers Conference 2024 in the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Referencing the exaltation by King David in Psalm 37:4 to “take delight in the Lord,” Hunt says the song is “about gathering up all of our affection and our praise and channeling it up to God.”
Planetshakers Releases “Delight – Live” Ahead Of New Album Due July 19
“Along with the heartfelt, scriptural lyrics, ‘Delight’ is an upbeat praise song that has a bit of funk, hip hop and dance EDM,” continues Hunt. “It’s kind of a lit bit of everything with even a rap in the bridge. People of all ages, including the older generation in our church, fully embrace it too. My mum and dad are in their late sixties, seventies and they’re getting into it. The participation has been great.”
“Even people that don’t normally dance are expressing themselves physically,” adds Ps. Sam Evans, which can be seen in the companion video to the song. “There is the touch of God that is getting people out of their mindset or their situation, getting them celebrating.”
Worship group, Lakewood Music, announces the release of their new live album Oh How Worthy, available on September 6th. Ahead of the new album, Lakewood Music debuted the title track today.
“We’re so thrilled to release the title track of our new album Oh How Worthy,” shares Lakewood Music’s Alexandra Osteen. “This is a song of worship not just for what our God has done but for who He is. It’s our hope that this would be an invitation to join the chorus all His creation echoes, “Oh how worthy is our God!”
The forthcoming album was recorded live at Lakewood Church and features 13 new songs from the diverse musical expression of Lakewood Church. The debut single, “Outnumbered,” from the new project was released last month and featured GRAMMY-nominated artist Tauren Wells. This became the largest launch of the group’s career with several placements including a takeover of Amazon and Spotify’s Top Worship Playlists and Worship Together’s Instagram as well as receiving an add at Air1.
Oh How Worthy features guest artists such as Tauren Wells and Alexander Pappas and includes songwriters Steven Furtick, Joel Osteen, Brandon Lake, Mitch Wong, Chris Brown, and more. See below for the complete track listing and featured artists on the upcoming project.
Lakewood Music Releases Title Track From New Album Out September 6
Husband and wife duo Jody and Lani announce their latest single, “No One Else But Jesus” available now. Various worship leaders including friend Karen Shea also appear on the recording.
“No One Else But Jesus” is a call for the Church to realize the power of what happens on earth and heaven when we join together in worship. “There’s no one else but Jesus worthy of all our praise / We’re singing with the angels / We’re singing with the saints.”
Co-Written by John Michael Bullock, Lani Crump and Karen Shea – the release coincides with Jody and Lani’s summer events leading worship at camp, events and churches. “It’s been inspiring to watch people catch the song so quickly. It gives us a beautiful glimpse of heaven.”
Jody and Lani have released seven singles including favorites “Find Me Faithful” and “Clear The Way”. Jody and Lani Crump are worship leaders and songwriters. Jody was a member of the band Pocket Full of Rocks while Lani worked in the music industry before the couple began leading worship together in their local church. They hope their songs encourage listeners to connect with God through authentic worship. They are married with three children and recently relocated from Nashville, TN to Jody’s hometown Texarkana, TX.
Jody And Lani release new worship song, “No One Else But Jesus”
BMI hosted the 2024 BMI Christian Awards this evening celebrating its top Christian songwriters and music publishers with BMI’s Christian Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year revealed. In addition, the ceremony named 21 first-time winners for their hand in writing the top 25 most-performed Christian songs of the previous year.
BMI’s AVP of Creative, Nashville, Leslie Roberts hosted the invitation-only ceremony at BMI’s Music Row office. Throughout the ceremony, BMI named the top 25 most-performed Christian songs such as “Fear Is Not My Future,” “God Is in The Story,” “Heart of God,” “Hymn of Heaven,” “Love Me Like I Am,” “Rest On Us,” “Who I Am” and more. First-time winners included Bryan Fowler, Enrique Holmes, Jesse Cline, Nicole Hannel, Jonathan Jay, Jacob Mills, Levi Mills, Hannah Shackelford, Anthony Skinner and P!nk.
The complete winners list can be found below
“Gratitude” was named the 2024 Song of the Year. Written by BMI songwriters Dante Bowe and Ben Hastings (APRA), the No. One hit is featured on Brandon Lake’s album, House of Miracles. The track received critical praise for its raw honesty and received nominations from the 2023 GMA Dove Awards for Song of the Year and Worship Recorded Song of the Year.
The coveted Songwriter of the Year award was presented to Phil Wickham, who had a hand in writing four of this year’s award-winning songs including “Holy Forever,” “Hymn of Heaven,” “Then Christ Came,” and “This Is Our God.” The multi-GRAMMY nominated worship artist has garnered billions of streams and his latest album, I Believe, has earned two No. One singles at Christian radio.
Essential Music Publishing took home the accolade for Publisher of the Year, as they are responsible for 12 of the 25 most-performed songs of the year including “Cornerstone,” “God Is in This Story,” “Heart of God,” “Holy Forever,” “I Thank God,” “I’m So Blessed,” “Perfectly Loved,” “Same God,” “Thank God I Do,” “Then Christ Came,” “This Is Our God” and “Who I Am.”
The 2024 BMI Christian Awards featured special moments throughout the night as Anne Wilson offered a stripped-down version of her hit, “Strong,” accompanied by BMI’s 2023 Songwriter of the Year, Jeff Pardo. Prolific newcomer Charly Beathard made her BMI performance debut with “Hallelujah Anyway,” while multi-Grammy nominated artist Phil Wickham performed an acoustic rendition of his song “Hymn of Heaven.”
Nashville-based non-profit, Porter’s Call, announces the 15th annual “Evening of Stories” on Tuesday, August 27th, at the Fisher Center for Performing Arts at Belmont University. The non-profit provides care, support, and encouragement for touring recording artists and their loved ones.
Following in the tradition of the last 14 years, “Evening of Stories” is a delightful and inspiring night of storytelling in words and songs. The night will feature two storytellers, Trisha Yearwood and Christian Wiman, and three musical guests, Kyshona, Tommy Prine and Natalie Hemby. The storytellers will share in the Nashville tradition of stories in-the-round while the musical guests highlight the unique mission of Porter’s Call through a story and song. All proceeds from “Evening of Stories” support the work of Porter’s Call.
As the primary fundraising event for Porter’s Call, “Evening of Stories” seeks to raise at least one-third of the organization’s annual operating budget, thus allowing more time and attention to be focused on the mission of serving touring and recording music artists.
Sponsorships are available for individuals, businesses, foundations, churches, or any group that wants to support the mission of Porter’s Call, including priority seating for the show, a VIP reception, and recognition within marketing materials. Sponsorships are tax-deductible, less the cost of goods and services received.
If there are remaining seats, individual tickets for this year’s event will be available later this summer. For information about sponsor packages, contact Ashley Holland at [email protected].
With a mission to help dynamic artists expand the reach and impact of their ministries, Christian music industry veteran Tim Robinson has launched Aligned Talent Agency.
Based in Brentwood, Tennessee, the firm already boasts an impressive stable of genre-spanning Christian recording artists, including multi-GMA Canada Covenant Award-winners Love & The Outcome and Dan Bremnes; radio hitmakers 7eventh Time Down; and the 2021 winner of Australia’s “The Voice,” Bella Taylor Smith. In addition, Aligned Talent Agency is home to such diverse emerging acts as bilingual recording artist Evan Egerer; acclaimed rockers Ignescent; and Detroit-based sibling duo Alive City, among others.
“I’m grateful to collaborate with such incredibly talented artists I genuinely enjoy serving,” Robinson shares. “We have an outstanding roster of established veterans like 7eventh Time Down, Dan Bremnes, and Love & The Outcome, as well as promising newcomers John Wesley, Evan Egerer, and Jordan Janzen, to name a few. It’s a blessing to be part of their journeys and ministries, advocating for them and ensuring they receive the support and opportunities they deserve.”
A multi-faceted entrepreneur, both within and outside the music industry, Robinson’s past ventures include restoration, business consulting, event planning, artist management, and promotion. He began managing and booking bands more than two decades ago before expanding into the concert promotion field, where he organized a leading Christian music festival in Colorado for eight years. Most recently, Robinson served as a music booking agent with the Greg Oliver Agency.
BMI hosted the 2024 BMI Christian Awards this evening celebrating its top Christian songwriters and music publishers with BMI’s Christian Song, Songwriter and Publisher of the Year revealed. In addition, the ceremony named 21 first-time winners for their hand in writing the top 25 most-performed Christian songs of the previous year. BMI’s AVP of Creative, Nashville, Leslie Roberts hosted the invitation-only ceremony at BMI’s Music Row office.
Throughout the ceremony, BMI named the top 25 most-performed Christian songs such as “Fear Is Not My Future,” “God Is in The Story,” “Heart of God,” “Hymn of Heaven,” “Love Me Like I Am,” “Rest On Us,” “Who I Am” and more. First-time winners included Bryan Fowler, Enrique Holmes, Jesse Cline, Nicole Hannel, Jonathan Jay, Jacob Mills, Levi Mills, Hannah Shackelford, Anthony Skinner and P!nk.
“Gratitude” was named the 2024 Song of the Year. Written by BMI songwriters Dante Bowe and Ben Hastings (APRA), the No. One hit is featured on Brandon Lake’s album, House of Miracles. The track received critical praise for its raw honesty and received nominations from the 2023 GMA Dove Awards for Song of the Year and Worship Recorded Song of the Year.
The coveted Songwriter of the Year award was presented to Phil Wickham, who had a hand in writing four of this year’s award-winning songs including “Holy Forever,” “Hymn of Heaven,” “Then Christ Came,” and “This Is Our God.” The multi-GRAMMY nominated worship artist has garnered billions of streams and his latest album, I Believe, has earned two No. One singles at Christian radio.
Essential Music Publishing took home the accolade for Publisher of the Year, as they are responsible for 12 of the 25 most-performed songs of the year including “Cornerstone,” “God Is in This Story,” “Heart of God,” “Holy Forever,” “I Thank God,” “I’m So Blessed,” “Perfectly Loved,” “Same God,” “Thank God I Do,” “Then Christ Came,” “This Is Our God” and “Who I Am.”
The 2024 BMI Christian Awards featured special moments throughout the night as Anne Wilson offered a stripped-down version of her hit, “Strong,” accompanied by BMI’s 2023 Songwriter of the Year, Jeff Pardo. Prolific newcomer Charly Beathard made her BMI performance debut with “Hallelujah Anyway,” while multi-Grammy nominated artist Phil Wickham performed an acoustic rendition of his song “Hymn of Heaven.”
If you missed the dynamic Grammy Award-winning gospel artist Tye Tribbett’s electrifying “Only One Night Tho” Tour, you are in luck! Tribbett is bringing back his sensational performance for one exclusive night on July 19 at 7:00 PM at the House Of Blues Las Vegas. This special show celebrates Tribbett’s prestigious James Cleveland Lifetime Achievement Icon Award as well as receiving the most nominations with eight nods at this year’s Stellar Awards.
Fans can secure their seats early by visiting the Live Nation website and using the pre-sale code STELLAR. General ticket sales will commence on Friday, June 21, ensuring everyone has the chance to experience this extraordinary event.
Tye Tribbett is renowned for his high-energy performances and powerful vocals that transcend the traditional boundaries of gospel music. With a career spanning over two decades, Tribbett has consistently delivered chart-topping hits and soul-stirring live shows, making him one of the most influential artists in contemporary gospel music.
This night promises to be an unforgettable evening of music, worship, and inspiration. Fans can expect Tribbett’s signature style of worship, blending elements of gospel, R&B, and hip-hop, creating a unique and immersive worship experience. With his recent GRAMMY win, the conclusion of his tour, and now receiving a lifetime achievement award from the Stellar Awards, Tribbett is having an unstoppable year—and he’s only just getting started!
